Medway

Medway's population grew in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Medway increased by 5.8%, from about 249,000 to 264,000.

The addition of about 14,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Medway was home to, on average, 9.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Medway

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Medway increased by two years, from 35 to 37 years.

This suburban area had a lower average age than the South East and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 6,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 6,000.

About 10% of people in Medway are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Medway by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

Medway saw the South East's second-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under one in two (46%) people aged 16 and over in Medway said they were married, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 29% to 35%.

Across the region, only Hastings saw a greater fall in the proportion of married people (from 46% to 40%).

The proportion of married people was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Medway

The percentage of Medway residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.8% to 3.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The proportion who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 5.8%, while the percentage of Medway residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 91%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Medway

The number of people in Medway that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 42,000 in 2001 to just under 79,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 30% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Medway that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 180,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 58%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 19,000 to just under 18,000 (from 7.8% to 6.8%).

About 5,200 people (1.1%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 2,600 in 2001 (2.0%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Medway increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Medway by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Medway that rented privately increased from 9.3% to 17% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 13%, while the percentage of Medway households that owned their home decreased from 75% to 68%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Medway increased by 7.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Medway, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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